In August 2024, Ogechukwu Okafor was stabbed to death by her husband in Anambra. In the same month, in a different state, Christiana Idowu was kidnapped and later killed by a close male friend. These are just a few of the many femicide cases reported last year alone.
With the alarming rise in femicides across Nigeria and Africa, one must ask: how many cases go unreported, and how many more victims of gender-based violence are at risk?
A national dashboard was launched in 2020 as part of a collaboration between Nigerian officials and the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative to provide comprehensive data to help tackle gender-based violence. By 2023, this dashboard had recorded over 25,000 cases. However, little data exists on how many perpetrators were actually brought to justice.
Given the high number of reported cases, one crucial question remains: how many survivors can access justice? Many victims are financially dependent on their abusers, making legal representation nearly impossible. This is where legal aid and pro bono lawyers play a critical role.
What Is Legal Aid?
Legal aid is the provision of assistance to people who cannot afford legal representation or access to the court system. Nigeria’s constitution established a Legal Aid Council under Section 17 of the Legal Aid Act. However, this Act primarily provides for those accused of crimes rather than victims of gender-based violence.
For domestic violence survivors, legal aid can be a lifeline, helping them navigate challenges such as obtaining protective orders, securing justice, and resolving custody battles. Legal aid dedicated to gender-based violence cases offers a beacon of hope.
Legal services are often associated with high costs, discouraging victims from seeking help. While this concern is valid, many women and girls remain unaware that free legal assistance exists specifically to support them.
This lack of awareness often leads to continued suffering, silence, and, in some tragic cases, suicide.
Who Is Offering Help?
If more women knew that legal aid was available, they would realize that several government agencies exist to ensure their legal protection.
Agencies such as the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, the Social Development Secretariat, and the Federal and State Ministries of Justice play vital roles. Additionally, the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act, 2015 (VAPP) has strengthened efforts to hold perpetrators accountable.
Beyond the government, organizations like the Safe Haven Foundation, Women in Distress Organization (WIDO), African Women Lawyers Association (AWLA), Women’s Aid Collective (WACOL), and others provide legal support to victims of domestic and gender-based violence.
For those unable to access these organizations, pro bono lawyers and law clinics offer alternative support.
While private lawyers do not always provide free services, some offer pro bono representation when it is clear that the victim cannot afford legal support.
Law clinics—programs within law schools that provide free legal services—are another crucial resource. There are now at least eighteen active law clinics across Nigeria.
The Effects of Proper Legal Support
If more domestic violence victims received appropriate legal support, they would benefit from restraining orders and safety plans crafted by legal experts. Assistance with divorce proceedings and property division would enable them to achieve financial independence.
Most importantly, legal aid would help survivors during custody battles, ensuring the safety and protection of their children. Additionally, legal support could assist in securing housing and employment, further promoting financial independence.
While gender-based violence remains a critical issue in Nigeria, it is clear that increased access to legal aid could significantly improve protection for women. Unfortunately, existing legal aid services are insufficient, and many women remain unaware of their options.
Expanding awareness and strengthening these support systems are necessary steps. Nigeria may still be far from eradicating gender-based violence, but initiatives such as law clinics and free legal services bring the country closer to that goal.
In August 2024, two tragic cases of femicide occurred in Nigeria, highlighting the rising issue of gender-based violence in the region. Despite efforts over the past few years, with over 25,000 cases recorded by a national dashboard by 2023, there remains a lack of data on the justice served to perpetrators. Many victims struggle to access justice due to financial dependence on their abusers, necessitating the critical role of legal aid and pro bono lawyers.
Legal aid in Nigeria is underlined by the Legal Aid Act, which mainly supports those accused of crimes rather than victims of gender-based violence. However, it is vital for survivors to obtain protective orders, secure justice, and ensure the safety of their children. Although many victims are unaware, several government agencies and organizations, including Safe Haven Foundation and Women's Aid Collective, offer legal assistance. Additionally, pro bono lawyers and law clinics provide free legal services, with at least eighteen active clinics available across Nigeria.
Improved access to legal aid could provide domestic violence victims with restraining orders, assistance with legal proceedings, and opportunities for financial independence. Despite the ongoing challenge of gender-based violence in Nigeria, enhancing awareness and support systems could foster a safer environment for women. While eradication may take time, initiatives such as law clinics and free legal services are crucial steps in this journey.
